PTC Grand Prix

The Peninsula Track Club Grand Prix Race Series is designed to encourage participation in PTC events, promote competition, reward volunteerism, and recognize long-term performance. Grand Prix points are earned by running designated Grand Prix events and by volunteering for the PTC at races, Litter Getters, and other Club functions. You do not have to sign up for the Grand Prix – if you are a PTC member and compete in a Grand Prix race, you automatically earn Grand Prix running points; volunteer and you earn PTC Grand Prix volunteer points. However, in order to be eligible for a Grand Prix racing award, you must volunteer at least once during the year.

Grand Prix Scoring

Racing

Points are awarded to the top ten male and female runners in each 5-year age group (regardless of awards given at the race). Scoring is as follows: 1st place receives 10 points, 2nd place receives 9, 3rd gets 8 and so on down to the 10th place runner who receives 1 point.

Overall winners receive 10 points plus bonus points based on the number of overall places awarded. For example, if awards go to the top 3 overall men and women, both the first-place man and first-place woman receive 10 points plus 3 bonus points for a total of 13 Grand Prix points. 2nd overall receives a total of 12 points and 3rd receives 11. If the race in question awards the top five overall, then the overall winner receives 15, 2nd gets 14 and so on to the 5th place overall who receives 11 points. Races with a Masters category are treated in a similar manner.

If a race has a walking category, Grand Prix points are awarded to the walkers as if the walking category was another age group. However, Grand Prix points are awarded only in those races that have a specific walking category.

Runners can earn bonus running points for setting an age group record for ANY PTC race, be it a Grand Prix or non-Grand Prix event. Three bonus points will be awarded when a new age group record is set. Six bonus points will be awarded if the overall course record is broken.

There is no limit to the number of Grand Prix racing points that can be
earned. However, you must be a PTC member on January 1 or become a PTC member in the year of competition prior to the Grand Prix event to receive points for your performance at a given event.

Volunteering

The PTC Grand Prix is unique in that points can be earned through volunteering. Every time a member volunteers for an event, they receive a three (3) Grand Prix volunteer points.

So how do you volunteer for a race? Simply contact our Volunteer Coordinator (Sara Leone, 757-912-0646) and officially volunteer for the race of your choice. On race day, show up one (1) hour prior to race time and check in with the Volunteer Coordinator for that race.

If you have not volunteered before, do not worry. Little training is needed. If you are interested helping with the computerized results, pass that along when you volunteer.

Volunteer points are also awarded for participating in Adopt-a-Highway Litter Getters, which occur four times a year. In addition to the 3 volunteer points awarded for each volunteer effort, bonus volunteer points are awarded for the following conditions:

  • Double points for multi-race or extended events: Multi-race events, such as Mulberry Island, count as two races. If you volunteer, you get double points (six points, 3 for each race). This does not apply to 1-mile fun runs, only for events with two fully timed races. Double volunteer points will be awarded when volunteering for PTC Grand Prix events.
  • Volunteer to be a Race Director or Race Coordinator for a race. The Race Director receives 10 bonus points (13 points total) and the Race Coordinator gets 5 bonus points (8 points total). Additional points may be awarded for contributions to PTC programs during the year including contributing content to four or more issues of On Your Mark.
  • Volunteer Bonus: Members also receive a one-time bonus of 7 points (for a total of 10 points) for their third volunteer effort.

There is no limit to the number of volunteer points that can be earned, although no more than 6 volunteer points can be earned for a single event (excluding the three-race volunteer bonus). Also, when the Grand Prix points are totaled, volunteer points cannot exceed the racing point total. Grand Prix point totals will be tallied each month and listed in On Your Mark and the PTC website. The member, male or female, with the highest Grand Prix point total (combined racing and volunteering) at the end of the year will be the PTC Grand Prix Champion.